On Saturday Euan and I were working with Cameron. Davy, Fran, Glenn, James, Keith, Lawrie and Nettle. We were providing mountain support and emergency response for Maximillion Events who were managing the Pentland Push event.

The finish line at the Pentland Push.

The Pentland Push is a fundraising event for the very good cause of St Columba’s Hospice and consists of three very tough routes through the Pentland Hills aimed at runners and walkers. The event was very well organised by Maximillion and after some very windy weather during the set up on Friday it was good to have some fine weather for the event itself on Saturday. The day ran very smoothly, so a big thanks to all involved and congratulations to all the participants.

Yesterday evening and early night Cameron and I were out in the Pentlands. We used the Caerketton Crags to look at security on steep ground and then spent time practicing navigation including some night nav.

Moonrise in the Pentlands.

It’s worth noting that the Caerketton Crags are very loose/friable and require care and good route choice.

This week I’ve been running a Silver DofE training for The City of Edinburgh Council. This included navigation in the Pentland Hills on Tuesday and a three day practice expedition in the Lammermuirs.

The group approaching the Meikle Says Law trig point.

The expedition took in Meikle Says Law and some delightful and, at times, tough walking terrain with a couple of beautiful camping spots. The group coped very well with some very mixed weather, which changed from heavy rain to bright sunshine on a fairly regular basis.

For the past two weekends I have been running Lowland Leader Award assessments for Falkirk Community Trust. The teams and I have visited various areas around the Pentland Hills and also areas bordering the Forth.

I was out in the Pentlands this evening with Alan, Lorn and Paul looking at hill navigation. We started from the Ranger Centre near the Flotterstone and headed around the Castle Law and Fala Knowe area with a fair bit of time off the paths looking at bearings and pacing.

Carnethy and Turnhouse Hills at dusk this evening.

It was a beautiful evening with a cool breeze. The Pentland Hills are pretty dry at the moment, but there are still some boggy spots off the paths.

Euan and I were running in the Pentland Hills today recceing a route for an event later in the year. The paths and ground generally are pretty wet at the moment after the recent rain. Sunshine and showers through the afternoon with a cool south-westerly wind. Some great views when the weather cleared.

Typiclal Pentlands view, though not from today and not Euan as I forgot to take photos.

Today I was delivering a hill walking navigation course in the Pentlands for The City of Edinburgh Council Adult Education. The course went well with lots of new skills being acquired.

Typical Pentland conditions. Photo not from today as I forgot my camera.

The Pentlands are relatively dry for the time of year with underfoot conditions being pretty good both on and off paths. It was warm in the sunshine, but cool in the shade or the wind, with the odd flake of snow falling at times.